The Winter Promise

Chapter 4: Between a Shared Woman and a Tortured Girlfriend

My name is Amarul Ihsan, you can call me Amar, that is how my friends call me, I am a student who sits in the third grade of Junior High School. I have something more than anyone else. Yes, I can analyze a matter and make decisions very quickly and accurately.

I don't think I'm special because I can do that, only, I'm quite helped by that ability. Because of that ability, I was often alone in class to observe every activity my friends did.

And one thing I want to remind you all.

I am not anti-social!

I have a lot of friends at this school, not only Riki and Maul are my friends. I have always maintained my social status with others. I don't want to be considered an anti-social person and have no friends.

No kidding!

People who have no friends at school are far more stupid than people who are consumed by love. Because that connection and information is much more important than anything else.

“Ar! What were you daydreaming about?”

A beautiful woman in her batik uniform was in front of me with a few books in her hand.

“...No, I was just thinking about something.”

I walked in the hallway with him while carrying a cardboard that was not too big but heavy.

“Heee... what do you think in the morning like this?”

The woman in front of me is Rina. He was my classmate and the prima donna that was in my school. A lot of guys at my school are looking for her to be a boyfriend. But he used to deny anyone who shot him, I don't know why he could do that.

“No.”

The reason why I was able to be with him was because I was told by my homeroom teacher to pick up a book that would later serve as a guide for the practice exam.

I was lazy to admit this, but I was a vice-chairman of the class, whereas Rina was the class president.

The reason why I was able to become the vice-chairman of the class was because no one wanted to be the vice-chairman of the class because it was troublesome, and my homeroom voted for it by matching the absence number and the date at that time. And I was elected vice-chairman of the class.

This is so troublesome! I want to get back to class and play with my best friend.

“By the way how do you prepare for the exam later?”

“As usual... study, search for material on the internet, and summarize the lesson in class.”.

“It turns out your efforts are harder than it looks.”

Rina looked at me in surprise, she seemed to think that I was not a diligent person. He's not wrong, I'm not as smart as you think. It's just that I'm currently eyeing recommendations so that I don't have to study anymore to get into High School.

“It's not as big as you think.”

Ahh. I would love to sit in my chair.

“...Hey, are you going home from school empty?”

I felt an unwearied hunch from this question. The last time I heard it, I ended up with something troublesome.

“What's wrong?”

“If you don't have an event, will you accompany me to the bookstore? I need some reference books for the Indonesian practical exam later.”

This is bad, I can't refuse this offer. Because I was in a group with him on the Indonesian practice exam and the practice exam told us to make a novel. If I refuse, maybe I will be told to help more to make the storyline.

“Other members where?”

“They are having their own business.”

Am I the only one who looks unemployed here? It seems like there is no other choice.

“...All right, looks like I'll be with you.”

“Really! Thank you Ar.”

Lina was thrilled to hear that, but I could only think of something troublesome about it that would soon happen. Should I just reject it?

Hopefully nothing will happen later.

***

“Huh..”.

I put my head on the cafeteria table. With a tired face, I tried to eliminate bad thoughts after school later.

“What's up?”

A man with a sturdy body and wearing glasses was in front of me holding a spoon in his right hand. He is Maulana aka Maul, someone who is very skilled in the field of computers, even teachers at my school recognize his ability in that field.

He was currently eating the fried rice he bought using my money. Because yesterday I promised to treat him to what he did when he helped me help Miyuki.

“I was just thinking of something troublesome.”

“Did you just get a problem?”

“Yup, very big problem.”

“What is it?”

“After school later I have to accompany Rina to the bookstore.”

“Isn't that nice, accompanying a beautiful woman who is the wrestler of this school student.”

Maul did not show any concern at all. It should be at a time like this, you give me input or encouragement so that I become more excited. You insensitive guy.

“But you know for yourself, I proposed the joint agreement.”

“You're right too.”

I don't imagine having to deal with the students at this school if they find out that I'm going with Rina.

I told you before that Rina would reject all the men who shot her. It also made the men in my school make a deal to make Rina as “Women with”.

This may sound harsh from what I said. But what is meant by “Women with” here is that all men around me are free to be close to Rina just can not be more than that.

And they also made some rules that should not be done. One of them is not to go home with him or go with him.

Then that makes it a problem because I'm the one who proposed it.

Maybe it'll be a little long, but I'll tell you why it happened.

***

Two years ago...

“Amar!”

With a sad face, Rina approached me who was compiling a class attendance report for my homeroom teacher in the class. Even though it was a break and all my classmates had gone to the cafeteria or to the field, and I was the only one left in class.

“Where have you been? This should be your job.”

I was very upset to have to take care of this report alone, even though I had an appointment with Riki and Maul to gather in the cafeteria.

“I'm tired once every day having to serve men in this school.”

“...”

“Hei... Did you listen to me?”

Lina folded her hands over my desk and put her pouting face right in front of me. It's really disturbing my work right now.

“Haah... Why don't you accept one man to be your girlfriend. That way they won't chase you anymore.”

“That's a great idea!”

He is happy to be back. He quickly changed his mood. I never understood the heart of a woman.

“...What if you were my girlfriend?...Of course just pretend.”

“That is the worst idea, you better find another man only.”

Did he forget that I didn't want to deal with this thing called dating? Why did he come up with that stupid idea?

“Come Amar, you help me.”

“From you complaining from earlier, you better help me with this report. This should be your job!”

I gave the pile of paper that was originally beside me to Lina's face.

“You're not cool.”

He started helping me with the report, even though his face was still pouting like that.

There might not be any harm if I help her.

“Good! ...I'll help you.”

Lina looked at me with sparkling eyes and took both of my hands and then she smiled.

“I'm very grateful once.”

“Let go of my hand.”

I pulled my hand by force.

So, how am I going to get those men to stay away from her?

If it wasn't for the pity of seeing her, I wouldn't have done this.

It seems the only way is that.

“I've got an idea.”

“Heh! What is it?”

Lina suddenly drew her body closer to me and our faces were no more distant between my arms. It was the first time I had ever been at such a close distance to a woman.

It's so close, I can't calm down if he's this close.

“Can you stay away a little, you're too close.”

Lina also distanced herself from me like her original position.

“So what's your plan?”

“For a while, I'll pretend to be your girlfriend.”

He immediately smiled and looked at me with a gaze that made me become annoyed at the smile.

“..Though you rejected it earlier, but finally used also my proposal... Just tell me you really want to do that.. Basic can't be honest.”

“Be quiet... I'm not doing it forever, just for a while.”

“Heee..”.

Lina was immediately disappointed.

“Already, from now on I will be your pretended girlfriend.”

“Please his help, a lord who can't be honest.”

And I started my school life trying to feel what it was called love, even if it was just pretend.

***

One week has passed.

“Mar! I heard from a classmate that you're dating Rina now. Is that true?”

Riki who just came to the cafeteria immediately made the atmosphere there become crowded because the students started looking at me.

“Yup.”

“Heee... So you're starting to like the one called courtship? I thought you wouldn't be eaten with that thing called love.”

The maul who knew nothing also started making fun of me.

I did deliberately not tell them for the smooth running of my plan. I don't want this plan of mine until it's known to anyone.

“Ahh.. it's so good to have a very beautiful girlfriend.”

Riki began to look desperate, he placed his head on the canteen table with a blank look in his eyes.

Then Rina arrived at the cafeteria and approached me.

“You've eaten Ar?”

“... Ohh so, I wanted to invite you to eat together. If you have eaten already... I go first with my friends yes.”

Then Rina left along with her friends while waving at me. All the men who were there started looking at me cynically and from behind them came the inscription “Kill”. OK. That's just kidding.

“Despite being her boyfriend you're still cold ya.”

“You how else Mul, indeed this is my nature.”

“I guess you'll soften if you already have a girlfriend.”

“That's impossible.”

“Enak once yes have a girlfriend, I would love to have her.”

Riki still looked as desperate as before. This time he turned his head to the right and to the left.

“But it looks like you're hiding something here.”

Maul started glancing at me and from her gaze it was seen that she already knew what I was doing.

“As I expected from someone hacker, you must have realized something huh?”

“Although not all, but at least I already know the big picture.”

“What are you two talking about?”

Riki's mood improved again and began to be interested in our current conversation.

“In the meantime I'll need your help Rik.”

“...?”

Then a group of men started coming to the table where I was sitting. A aura of hostility began to radiate from them.

I think it's time.

“Can you come with us?”

A large man looked at me very sharply. His hands were huge and when viewed from his posture, it seemed like he was a third-grader.

This is actually the most troublesome part of this plan.

“What if I refuse?”

“You will know the consequences.”

“I will come with you on condition.. These two friends must come too.”.

I embrace Maul who is beside me and point at Riki who is in front of me. They were both shocked and tried to escape.

“Alright then.”

“Hei... Why did you drag me into the trouble you were doing?”

With a pale face Maul tried to rid herself of my embrace.

“Because you already know my plan, at least you should see it through to the end.”

“I don't want to, better I go back to class now.”

“Hee... nothing will happen there.”

“That can't be Mar, you don't see a murderous look from them. Their eyes are like a bunch of Hienas looking at a carcass.”

Maul just imagines about it, you guys take it easy.

“Just relax, Riki is with us.”

“Looks like I can't escape from you.”

Maul let out a long sigh, and she finally decided to come with me.

***

“How about here only?”

We also arrived at the back of the school. Usually this place is used by students to fight or to shoot someone. But lately this place has become empty due to the current strictness of BK teachers.

“Looks like you're an impatient person huh.”

“I don't have much time to spare you guys. Say what you want to say.”

I was trying to be calm back then, because I used to get involved with fights so something like this wouldn't scare me in the least.

“I want you to break up with Rina right now.”

“For what should I do that? What is the advantage for me?”

“If you don't want to, we will beat you as well as your friends here.”

The big man started to stretch his fingers and put the perfect horses right in front of me. I think he is someone who has great martial skills.

“Let's make a deal.”

I looked at them with a sharp look.

“Deal you said?”

“Iya, I will decide on Rina as you want but it is not free.”

“You mean?”

“We made that Rina as a woman together.”

Am I being too cruel when I say this?

“You can all be close to Rina, but none of us can make her a boyfriend. And also there are some requirements that should not be done.”

I took the paper out of my pocket and threw it in front of them. The paper contains requirements for what they should not do. And the big man took the paper.

“...What is this? ...Do you think we'll follow your orders, don't get cocky you're a first-class kid.”

The big man tore the paper into small pieces.

“But I want to go through this without violence, but you yourself asked for it.”

I also plucked my finger.

Without needing to give any direction, Riki directly advanced in front of me to face them.

“After this you have to explain everything to me Mar.”

“Sure, that's also if we don't get into the BK.” room

“Send to me.”

With a burning spirit, Riki hit both hands and mounted his horses as well.

“If for that it seems like you calm down Mar.”

The maul who had previously only remained silent behind me now stepped forward to stand beside me.

“What's Mul?”

“Today teacher BK is not in because of illness.”

“Where did you know?”

“Today my class has a BK lesson... Do we let Riki fight?”

“Yup... Let him rampage as much.”

It looks impossible but that's what happened. At that time Riki will fight with six third-graders who seem to be in the taekwondo martial club in my school.

“Do we need help?”

“No need, I've had enough... I have to teach this shitty first grader a lesson.”

The man's face turned red as the emotions inside him increased.

“Are you sure you don't want to ask your friend for help?”

I tried to lure his anger out again.

“Don't be arrogant you're a first-class kid! I'm enough to teach you guys a lesson.”

People seem to be easy to provoke.

“What's your order Mar?”

Riki's aura has changed compared to before, this time he looks like an eagle that has seen its prey. He was calm and focused towards the enemy that was in front of him.

“Stop him.”

“Alright!”

Riki started running towards the big man very quickly.

“Quickly!”

The big man did not have time to make a distance with Riki to bring out his martial skill. Riki held the man's collar firmly and slammed him with his legs.

The man fainted instantly as his back hit the ground very strongly.

“How can Riki be that strong?!”

Maul who had never seen Riki fight even once looked very surprised. I even saw his hands tremble with fear.

“Of course, if he's not that strong, I can't possibly take you here.”

I walked over to Riki.

“Good work buddy.”

The five friends of the man look frightened after seeing his friend slammed by Riki. Of course it can frighten them, as Riki's body size is smaller than that of the man but he can slam her easily.

“How... Do you still want to fight?”

“B..Alright, we will follow your request.”

“Spread this news to all the men in this school, you already know what the consequences are if breaking.”

And they left in a daze while carrying his friend who was still unconscious after being slammed by Riki.

“Finally done too!”

I stretched both my hands up.

My life is full of peace, I am coming!

“You have to explain everything to me Mar.”

“Where should I tell you everything yes..”

I looked at the blue sky. I blocked the sunlight with my right hand so I could see the clouds and birds flying.

And since then the plan to make Rina as “Women with” went smoothly. And also Riki suddenly held complete control over the power of the students ranging from first to third grade, it seems like the person who was then slammed by Riki was the leader of this school.

***

“I've kept my promise, so it's enough up here to play his pretended girlfriend.”

I also ended the play that I had been playing along with Rina.

“So yes! It's a pity that this is so over.. Though it was so much fun.”

A disappointed expression was very visible on Lina's face at this moment. As if he didn't want to end this. But I don't want to if I have to do this troublesome thing continuously. A week has been a long time for me.

“But can I call you Ar as usual?”

“Serah.”

I don't really care about a call anyway.

Because it's just a call.

the End Chapter 4